Main concern is the potential of significant ice accumulations producing dangerous if not impassable travel conditions, downed trees and power lines, and power outages. Highest accumulations are along the Cumberland Plateau, far northeastern TN into southwest VA, and into the mountains of western NC.
Light wintry mix to begin moving across East TN during the day on Saturday, turning to heavier precipitation Saturday night. There's likely to be a lull for most of the area Saturday night into Sunday as temperatures rise and precipitation type switches to rain. Finally as the system exits Sunday night into Monday a light snowfall for northern TN into southwest Virginia is increasingly likely. Exact timing on precipitation changeover is uncertain.
Windy conditions will develop across the far east Tennessee Mountains and Foothills Saturday Evening and continue through Sunday Evening. Southwest winds of 25 to 40 mph with gusts in excess of 80 mph.
Arctic Cold temperatures are expected early next week. Wind chills will drop to near zero to 5 below at times Monday and Tuesday, and 10 to 18 degrees below zero across the higher elevations.
Be prepared for the upcoming winter storm. Prepare and plan for several days of difficult to impossible travel conditions, and have ways to stay warm (safely!) in cold weather.
Each observation point is apart of our COOP program (Cooperative
Observer Program). Each site has a 24 hour observation period
that ends and begins at 8 am local time. Each site records
temperature, precipitation, and snowfall data. More information about
the COOP program can be found here www.nws.noaa.gov/om/coop/
Data began being collected at: Cades Cover on 01/01/1999 || Mount
LeConte on 07/01/1987 || Newfound Gap on 01/01/1991 || Sugarlands
Visitor Center on 12/01/1921